Valerie Labi of Wahu Mobility says risk is not taken by investors to fund viable ideas because of lack of data. (Monocle – The Entrepreneurs – Issue 9 – 2025 pg 037)
She reckons ‘There is a perception of risk when it comes to African markets because of lack of data. Because no one like me had ever done something of this kind before, they didn’t believe I could do it. That lit a bit of fire in me.’
Think about it. Maybe if we approach potential viable ideas from the believability of the story of/or behind the idea and how the idea will work out, we may just yet create realities from a place I am calling ‘Narrative Sensing’.
Is data the only core proof of concept? The potentiality of narrative might just be another of the metric(s) we can use to judge viable ideas.
The western world has many tales of the almighty scribbles behind the napkin ideas. If some of those ideas have seen the light of day, just by believability descended from triggered imagination. Can we migrate the same thinking to Africa?
I am not downplaying data and the sciencia of metrics of proof. If the angel investors humbled themselves and came down, one rung from God, they might just be intrigued by the dreaming of men.
Narrative sensing is twofold. The investor develops the skill of sense that connects with the nerve of a potential viable idea. Secondly the investor could also put aside a percentage of his treasure, for ideas that require sensing. That way the investor does get invested in the business of ideas by ‘narrative’(s) but does so intentionally.
